Live cricket score, South Africa vs Pakistan, 3rd Test, Wanderers

Azhar Ali in this series v SA: 36, 0, 2, 6, 0 & v England in 2018: 50, 4, 2, 11. Across nine innings he has scored 111 runs at an average of 12.33. Conditions have been mighty difficult but Pakistan's premier batsmen has gone missing when they've needed him most. #SAvPAK

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) January 11, 2019

Roller-coaster day

In what turned out to be a roller-coaster Day 1 with fortunes swinging wildly back and forth for both teams, Pakistan made a stunning comeback in the final session as the hosts collapsed to be bowled out for 262. However, Vernon Philander struck twice at the fag end of the day to keep the home team in front.

At the start of the final session, South Africa were in the ascendancy with the score reading 226 for 3. It was Mohammad Abbas who started the slide by bowling with unremitting control to trouble the duo of Zubayr Hamza (41) and Theunis de Bruyn (49).

Abbas also induced Hamza to edge one behind only for Sarfraz Ahmed to put down the chance. However, his perseverance bore fruit in his very next over as he prised de Bruyn out LBW. The wicket of de Bruyn triggered a major collapse. Mohammad Amir followed it up by sending Temba Bavuma back to the hut.

Hamza, who had batted with purpose on his Test debut, eked out an edge off Amir. Faheem Ashraf and Hasan Ali then took over to rip through the lower-middle-order to clean up the hosts. Philander, though, extracted subtle seam movement to snuff out Shan Masood and Azhar Ali to ensure South Africa maintained the ascendancy.

Earlier, after the home team elected to bat, Abbas struck early by dislodging the stand in captain Dean Elgar. At that stage, Amla and Markram joined forces to put the hosts back on track. On a wicket that is on the slower side, Makram showcased his penchant for driving by cracking a slew of shots. In the 11th over, he essayed the punch and pull off Hasan Ali to collect three fours. He soon reached his fifty with a trademark cover drive off Faheem Ashraf.

The highlight of Markram's eye-catching exhibition of strokeplay was when he caressed an immaculate drive in the 23rd over that scurried away to the fence. At the Lunch beak, Amla and Markram looked set to stitch a massive stand but the former fell to a strangle down the leg side and Shadab Khan removed Amla to keep Pakistan in the game.

During the first two sessions, the lack of discipline cost Pakistan before they made an impressive comeback. Unfortunately, they couldn't take advantage of the good work done by the bowlers by losing two quick wickets.

Sarfaraz having a word with umpires there after that decision got overturned,good comeback by Pakistan #SAvPak

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) January 11, 2019

Roller coaster ride

Rabada and de Kock also didn't last long. South Africa have lost six wickets for just 36 in the last session!! The beauty of Test cricket.

Pakistan on roll

It has been a wonderful final session for Pakistan. The tourists have come out rejuvenated and got the rewards for their toil and hard work. Amir continued to bowl with unremitting discipline in the one square foot window outside off and tempted Hamza to edge one behind. Fine innings by the debutant.

Hasan, who has struggled for control, also got among the wickets by sending Philander back to the hut lbw. Initially, not given but the visitors took the review and the ball-tracker showed it was clipped. Pakistan are on a roll here.

Rewards for persistence

In the first over after the break, Abbas troubled both Hamza and de Bruyn with the nip backer but didn't have too much of luck going his way. Hazma was dropped while de Bruyn survived a review for LBW. However, de Bruyn kept playing across and paid the price as he was prised out lbw by Abbas. The pacer reaped the reward for persistence.

Amir then followed up his pace colleague's efforts by tempting Bavuma to edge one behind the stumps. This has been a good session for the visitors so far.

South Africa march along

Despite losing the wicket of Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram South Africa marched along as they cemented their strong position during the second session of the third Test against Pakistan. At Tea, the visitors had reached 226 for 3.

South Africa started the second session well placed at 108 for 1. Markram continued to play with carefree freedom after the break, capsulised by the stunning drive on the rise off Hasan Ali in the 29th over. Amla joined in the act, crunching Hasan for three fours in a single over.

Just when Markram looked set to notch up a massive score, he was dismissed via strangle down the leg side. On expected lines, the opener was gutted. Amla, too, didn't last long caught at slip off Shadab Khan. The No.3 batsman tried to cut a delivery that bounced extra and could only edge it to Asad Shafiq who pouched a sharp catch.

Zubayr Hamza, the Test debutant, who averages close to 50 in first class cricket, then took over by playing with an aggressive intent. The duo of Hamza and Theunis de Bruyn also took advantage of some ordinary bowling by Hasan and to a lesser extent Shadab Khan. The Pakistan pair bowled a string of short and wide deliveries and were duly punished.

14th instance out of 210 Test innings HM Amla has been dismissed in the 40s, 2nd time at Johannesburg, 1st time v Pakistan: https://t.co/bsKqDMOHSv#SAvPak

— Arthur_S (@allanholloway) January 11, 2019

Quick strikes...

Just when Amla looked set for a big score, he has been dismissed. And yet another soft dismissal. Amla would be a disappointed man as he looked in good nick. Shadab was the wicket-taker with Shafiq snaring a sharp catch at slip.

Markram falls...

Markram continued to explore every nook and corner of the ground after the break. He got into nervous nineties with a nicely timed flick off Fahim. On a flat track, he looked set to crack a crackerjack hundred only to be dismissed via a strangle down leg. Markram, as expected, is gutted. Unlucky way to get out.

When Markram is playing those sublime drives, he seems to be painting a masterpiece on a canvas. The sweet sound of the willow against the leather feels like the pop of a champagne #SAvPAK

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) January 11, 2019

The Markram show

Aiden Markram (78*) and Dean Elgar (22*) strung together an unbeaten stand of 102 for the second wicket to drive South Africa to a position of strength at the end of the first session of the Wanderers Test versus Pakistan. The hosts were 108 for 1 at the break.

After the home team elected to bat, Mohammad Abbas struck early by dislodging the stand in captain Dean Elgar. In his very first over of the day, he bowled one in the corridor of off stump and extracted seam movement to produce the edge. However, after the early jolt, Amla and Markram joined forces to put the hosts back on track.

On a wicket that is on the slower side, Makram showcased his penchant for driving by cracking a slew of shots. In the 11th over, he essayed the punch and pull off Hasan Ali to collect three fours. He soon reached his fifty with a trademark cover drive off Faheem Ashraf.

The highlight of Markram's eye-catching exhibition of strokeplay was when he caressed an immaculate drive in the 23rd over that scurried away to the fence. Even after the home side went past the 100-run mark, Markram continued to put on an exhibition, capsulised by the flowing straight drive off Abbas. Amla, who has been struggling for form in recent times, also looked in good touch.

After picking up the early wicket, Pakistan's pacers mostly struggled for discipline. The touring side also would rue the fact that Shan Masood dropped a tough chance at forward short leg to give Markram a reprieve. Mohammad Amir was the unlucky bowler.

Earlier, South Africa, on expected lines, brought in Zubayr Hamza with Pakistan making three changes which included the brave call to drop their premier spinner Yasir Shah.

Sublime fifty

Markram, who also cracked a fine fifty in the second Test, composed another half century. He reached the landmark with a trademark drive that raced through covers. Pakistan desperately need a wicket.

Zubayr Hamza becomes the 100th Test Protea since 1992. #SAvPAK

— Heinz Schenk (@sportmal) January 11, 2019

Markram's epiphany

Aidan Markram unleashes a boundary-barrage on Pakistan, cutting loose against Hasan Ali and lacing three boundaries off an over. His current figures read 2-0-17-0. Pakistan are definitely ruing that dropped chance at forward short leg.

Perfect start

Elgar has a habit of flirting at deliveries outside off. And he has edged one in the very first over bowled by Abbas. It was in the corridor and Elgar got into two minds before edging it. Great start for the tourists.

Pakistan could have also dismissed Markram but the FSL fielder put down a sharp chance. Amir was the unlucky bowler.

Toss and teams:

South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat. Good toss to win for the home team. Hamza is making his Test debut. He averages close to 50 in first class cricket. Shadab and Fahim come in for the visiting side. It is a brave call to leave out Yasir Shah.

A dead-rubber contest can always be hard for players to motivate themselves. The opposition has already clinched the series and you don't have much to play for. Pakistan's players might be feeling something similar as South Africa sealed the Test rubber by emerging triumphant at Cape Town and Centurion.

However, on other hand, the Pakistan camp may still feel that incentive of emerging victorious in a Test match in alien conditions. Even if we look back at the history, Pakistan just like most other teams (barring Australia and and to a lesser extent England), have struggled to win Tests in South Africa. In fact, they have won only two Tests in the Rainbow nation.

As far as the series so far is concerned, Duanne Oliver has been the star performer for the home side, having snared 16 scalps in the rubber. He has troubled all the batsmen from Pakistan by hitting the deck extremely hard. South Africa, however, will miss the services of their captain, du Plessis, who was handed a suspension for slow over rate after the Cape Town Test. Elgar will lead the side in his place.

Pakistan, meanwhile, may look to strengthen the batting unit in view of tricky conditions by bringing in Fahim and Shadab.

Can Pakistan win a consolation Test? We will have toss and teams in a while.